We will also be hosting a talk and discussion at 1pm in room 1. Everyone is welcome, though we’ll be tailoring our talk to what we assume will be an anarchist audience. Like everything we’re doing over the next few months we’ll be using the opportunity to encourage people to join us in attending the Calais No Border Camp. Here’s a summery of Read the rest of this entry »

The front cover bears a quote from a text written by the Haunt of Albanian Migrants and circulated at a protest following the murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos by police in Greece. The outburst of rage that has followed this latest act of violence by the state has spread to all sections of Greek society that suffer under capitalism, not least migrants. As part of yesterday’s international day of solidarity members of No Borders South Wales joined with South Wales Anarchists in the centre of Cardiff to show our support for the uprising in Greece.

Though we heartily recommend the rest of the content of the publication, for ease of access we’ve reproduced our article below (usually we have more input, see previous issues), regular readers of this blog may find large parts of the text somewhat familiar!

ID Cards Are Here!

Biometric ID cards came into force for non-EEA students and spouses on 25th November. The UK Border Agency office at 31-33 Newport Road, Cardiff is one of only six registering centres in the country. No Borders South Wales protested there on the day ID cards came into force as part of a coordinated day of action outside every centre and also on the day the Cardiff office started the process of interrogation, photographing and fingerprinting.

Both the protests were well attended, attracting well over 50 people each; we displayed banners, held placards, waved giant mock ID cards and distributed over 1000 leaflets. The public reaction was overwhelmingly supportive.

These new ID cards are not only a repressive measure against non-EEA students and spouses, they are the first shot in an attack against everyone’s liberty. This initial step by the UK authorities targets a largely voiceless migrant group, who have the least chance to complain and the most to lose. By using a cynical appeal to the worst kind of bigotry the government is following the example of repressive regimes throughout history. Immigration law already gives the Home Office powers it would like to exert over everybody. By resisting the repression of migrants, we defend the freedom of everyone!

ID cards are just one part of a wider plan to increase government regulation over all our lives. To reverse the waves of authoritarianism that currently dominate the political mainstream, we need to build a movement that is committed to universal freedom and rejects the legitimacy of state interference. It is up to everyone who cares about freedom and equality to organise to oppose these worrying trends.

Issue #24 of the South Wales Anarchist newsletter “Gagged!” is out now. As usual it contains a number of articles by No Borders South Wales. All the information in “No ID card protest in Newport”, “We loves ya, Babi” “No Border Fest Success” & “Nosey cops stalk public” have already appeared on this blog. South Wales Anarchists provide the rest of the content on a range of issues including climate change, anti-fascism, corruption and the economy.